US troops on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis amid protests
US troops on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis amid protests
1,500 Alaska-based troops are on standby for potential deployment to Minneapolis as anti-ICE protests intensify.
The Pentagon has placed about 1,500 troops from the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on prepare-to-deploy orders as a possible response to anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis. Officials say no decision has been made on moving the force, but the option remains if President Trump decides to deploy active-duty troops.
The demonstrations have intensified in the Twin Cities after a federal agent shot dead a city resident earlier this month. Thousands have gathered to protest immigration enforcement, with authorities urging peaceful demonstrations while federal officers increase their presence in the city.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the idea of sending troops, saying the current federal presence already feels like an occupation. He stressed the need for calm and lawful action, regardless of any security posture.
A federal judge recently limited crowd-control tactics against peaceful protesters, restricting arrests and pepper spray. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the ruling “a little ridiculous” as she defended stricter enforcement measures in the area.
National security discussions have intensified around the possible use of the Insurrection Act, with officials weighing the risks and implications of deploying active-duty forces on U.S. soil to manage protests and unrest.
